Gilbo was a “Negro man” from the area “New Bern” who is described as being “between 25 and 30 years of age, light complexion, about five feet high and has an impediment in his speech when closely interrogated.”

So, not very tall.

The runaway slave ad said that he was wearing “an Osnaburghs shirt and trowsers, and cloth round Jacket.”

What does that look like?

Perhaps similar to this 19th century woodcut, in which a slave is wearing the exact same type of shirt, round coat and pants described in the 1828 missing slave advertisement:

19th century woodcut illustration of a slave. Image credit: Eco.Soul.Intellectual.

According to Florence Montgomery (Textiles in America), osnaburg was made in blue, white, brown and white, with stripes, checks or solid colors.